BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
About five kilos of raw pork from Panay Island was confiscated yesterday at a wake in Sitio Panaosawon, Brgy. Tuburan, EB Magalona, Negros Occidental.
The raw pork, which was immediately burned, originated from Brgy. Daan Banwa in Tapaz town of Capiz, according to Tuburan barangay chairman Ramonito Espacio Jr.
Negros Occidental and highly urbanized Bacolod City have banned the entry of live pigs and pork-related products from Panay and Guimaras Islands, following detection of Asian Swine Flu in Oton, Iloilo.
Espacio said they were assisted by OIC-Municipal Agriculturist Efren Garcia Jr., Municipal Agriculturist’s Office staff, and PVO personnel, when they seized the meat at a wake, and also when they burned the contraband in the same sitio.
The woman, who hand-carried the meat, was visiting the wake of a relative in Sitio Panaosawon.
The discovery of raw meat from Panay was made after Espacio visited the wake to deliver their funeral assistance, and they were offered by the family grilled pork.
Espacio immediately reported the matter to Mayor Marvin Malacon, as well as to the Municipal Agriculturist’s Office, and the PVO.*